Guard for lacing-hooks.



Patented Aug. l5, I899.

- A. K. LOVELL.

GUARD FOB LACING HOOKS.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.)

5 Farms co. PHOTO-THO. vnsnmmch UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT K. LOVELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GUARD FOR LAClNG-HOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,984, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed April 5, 1898. Serial No. 676,515. (No model.)

{1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT K. LOVELL, of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Guards for Lacing-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

At the present time there are in general use on shoes, gloves, and other articles of wear hooks known as lacing-hooks, through and around which lacing-cords are passed. As

heretofore constructed and used these hooks are very objectionable for the reason that their open uncovered ends are liable to become entangled with and to wear and injure the clothing. This is particularly the case when the lacing-hooks are employed on shoes. The object of my invention is to overcome the objection named by the employment of a guard or fender which covers or protects the end of the hook in such manner that although the introduction and removal of the string are permitted by the application of a moderate strain or pressure it is impossible for the clothing to engage the point of the hook.

My guard may be constructed in a great variety of forms, several of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings; but I prefer as the neatest and most satisfactory construction a yielding rib extending lengthwise of the shoe or glove immediately opposite the points of the hooks, this guard extending at such height as to prevent the clothing from touching the point of the hook, although it will yield sufficiently to permit the introduction and removal of the cord.

Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe provided with the ordinary lacing-hooks and with my guard or fender. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the correspondingly-numbered line, showing the parts in their normal position, with the fender protecting the point of the hook. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the compression of the fender which occurs during the insertion or withdrawal of the cord. Fig. at is a perspective view illustrating the fender in another form. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing still another form.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of a shoe; B B, a series of lacing-hooks so constructed and applied thereto in the ordinary manner, so that the cord may be readily laced to and fro through the successive hooks.

0 represents my guard or fender. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 this consists of a compressible cord 0, of rubber or other elastic materiahpreferably tubular, laid within a covering of leather 0 or other suitable material stitched or otherwise attached to the shoe and extending from the top downward in close proximity to the points of the hooks. There are of course two of these fenders, one outside of each row of hooks. The fenders rise from the surface of the shoe to a level with or above the surface of the hooks, so that a garment falling on the front of the shoe rests upon and is supported by the fender and prevented from falling within or engaging upon the point of the hooks. Owing, however, to the compressibility of the fender it will yield under the pressure of the cord as the latter is strained to draw it within the hooks, as usual, and thus the lacing operation is permitted in the usual manner. In like manner the fender will yield and permit the cord to be drawn out of the hooks under moderate tension.

In Fig. 4 the fender 0 consists of a sheet of leather or other pliable material folded around the compressible cord 0 and stitched or otherwise attached to the shoe, its edges being preferably carried under the base of the hooks. At suitable points this fender is provided with openings 0 in which the hooks are seated, the surface of the fender standing normally above the point of the hook which is seated therein, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be observed that under this construction it is impossible for the garment to come in contact with the hook until pressure has been applied suflicient to compress the fender.

In Fig. 5 the fender 0 consists simply of a tube of rubber or equivalent material stitched to the shoe adjacent to the points of the hooks.

It is evident that the fender may be made in many equivalent forms and that it may be constructed of any suitable material and applied in any suitable manner, provided only it stands adjacent to the open side or end of the hook and in such relation thereto as to prevent the ends of the hooksfrom accidentally engaging or coming in contact with foreign objects. It is obvious also that the fender may be employed in connection with lacing-hooks of any ordinary form or construction.

While it is preferred to make the fender compressible, it is obvious that if it rises to a SUflICiGIlt height and lies adjacent to the points of the hooks it will answer a good purpose, although it may be incompressible or compressible to a slight degree only, since the yielding nature of the leather and the hooks will admit of the cord being crowded into and pulled out of place.

It will be observed that my guard or fender does not form a part of the lacing-hook, but is disconnected therefrom and is independent in its action of the material to which it is applied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a lacing -hook, a yielding guard situated adjacent to the point of the hook and disconnectedtherefr'om, said guard being independent in its action of the material to which it is applied.

2. In combination with a series of lacinghooks, a guard or fender, extending adjacent to the points of the hooks and consisting of a yielding sheet or cover and a compressible cord therein.

3. In combination with a row of lacinghooks, a continuous elevated guard or fender, lying transversely of the hooks, adjacent to their open ends.

4. In combination with a lacing-hook, a compressible guard or fender, having an opening to receive the hook, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of March, 1898, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ALBERT K. LOVELL.

W'itnesses F. H. MAsrERsoN, W. G. HOWE. 

